The Best Things To Do In Melbourne This Weekend

The Wharf Winter Glasshouses 

18/38 Siddeley St, Docklands | June–September

Image credit: Supplied

Celebrate Defiant Love At The Rebel Heart Exhibition

Keith Murdoch Gallery, State Library Victoria | Until 27 January 2027

Image: Rebel Heart | Eugene Hyland

Love doesn’t follow a rulebook, and the State Library Victoria’s latest exhibition is dedicated to the people who throw that book entirely out the window. Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations uses the Library’s extensive archive of letters, diaries, and rare manuscripts to share stories of romantic defiance across the ages, from Victorian-era same-sex couples to a mid-century marriage caught in the crossfire of the White Australia policy. 

The high notes of the exhibition include a mourning brooch woven from the hair of pastoralist couple Anne Drysdale and Caroline Newcomb, and the story of bushrangers Captain Moonlight and James Nesbitt after they met in Pentridge Prison. Eventually turning to the present, Rebel Heart explores digital intimacy through mixtapes, DMs, and even AI relationships. 

Check out original music commissions from Angie McMahon, Mindy Meng Wang, Mo’Ju, and Amos Roach, all of which respond to the material on display to add a truly moving layer to the experience. Entry is free, and the exhibition runs until January 2027; find out more here.

Grazeland’s Winter Program 

Grazeland, Spotswood | June–August 2026

Image: Grazeland | Supplied 

Grazeland is going all-in for winter this year, and it's not just the incredible food line up giving you a reason to visit. With something for everyone across the season, including a little extra school holiday magic from a snow machine with honest-to-goodness real snow, and a magical Christmas in July event with festive dishes and fairy lights. 

All throughout winter, you can also catch FIFA World Cup matches screened live alongside the usual AFL and NRL games. It’s the perfect spot to gather the crew for great food, cold drinks, and a buzzy atmosphere to boot. 

Weekend entertainment runs from Friday through Sunday each week. Headliners include a Mauritian band on 21 June, Latin Night on 4 July, and a Middle Eastern night with bellydancers on 22 August.

We're huge fans of the pan-fried dumplings at Lucky Little Dumpings, the quesadillas at El Taco and the hand-made pasta at Pasta E Basta (all great options on a cols winter night). But the one thing you can’t miss? The $25 Winter Feed that keeps people coming back. Get a full-size main meal and full-size dessert for $25 across more than 20 different vendors; we’re talking options like Hainanese chicken rice, Philly cheesesteaks, currywurst, steak sandwiches, and churros with dipping chocolate.

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Bubble Planet

62 Dawson St, Brunswick | Ongoing

Image credit: Bubble Planet | Supplied

Lift your spirits: Bubble Planet is floating into Brunswick on 1 April. 

Bubble Planet has already mesmerised more than ten cities around the world—from London to Los Angeles, and New York to Milan—where it’s drawn over five million visitors. How does it work? Well, guests move through a spherical universe via multiple rooms, each featuring surreal, dream-like landscapes and everything from giant inflatables to floating soapy bubbles. Explore the Giant Bubble Dome, where you can relax on huge inflatable clouds while watching meditative animations above, and the continuous illusions of the Infinity Room. 

There are 11 rooms to discover at Bubble Planet (hosted at Fever Melbourne). Visitors of all ages will love the colourful combination of technology, creativity, and the senses in this floor-to-ceiling sensory experience.